Why can't I run commands like 'java' from the Visual Studio Code terminal?

Question

Question

I'm using Visual Studio Code's terminal (on a Windows 11 device) and can't run commands like java, flutter etc., be it VS Code's Powershell terminal or VS Code's Command Prompt terminal.

When I try to run java by typing java in the VS Code Powershell terminal, it displays:

PS C:\users\user> java
java : The term 'java' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
At line:1 char:1
+ java
+ ~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : ObjectNotFound: (java:String) [], CommandNotFoundException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException

When I try to run java by typing java in the VS Code Command Prompt terminal, it displays:

C:\users\user> java
'java' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

I can run java and flutter fine from the regular Windows Command Prompt (their bin folders are in the Path environment variables).

How do I allow these commands to be run in the VS Code terminal?

I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling VS Code, thinking I would be able to then run the commands, but I get the same problem.

I'm already able to run a java program using the "Run java" button in the top-right of the window. However, I want to be able to run java by entering the command in the VS Code terminal, similarly to running commands in Command Prompt.

I already have the "Extension Pack for Java extension" and "Dart" extensions for VS Code.

---

Solution

Thanks to @Steven-MSFT!

My User/settings.json contained:

    "terminal.integrated.env.windows": {
        "PATH": "C:\\ghcup\\ghc\\8.10.7\\bin"
    },

I deleted "PATH": "C:\\ghcup\\ghc\\8.10.7\\bin" from User/settings.json.

    "terminal.integrated.env.windows": {
        
    },

Now I can run commands like java, flutter (etc.) from the VS Code terminal.

Solution

Have you configured terminal.integrated.env.xxx in the settings.json file? Such as this:

"terminal.integrated.env.windows": { "Path": "" }

Please check your configuration files both User and Workspace.

Update:

If you want to modify the system environment variables such as path, but you still want to retain the system environment variable on your computer. You can take ${env:Path} to get the old value on your computer. Like this:

  "terminal.integrated.env.windows": {
    "Path": "some new paths;${env:Path}"
  },

Comments

[jamesdlin]

Presumably VS Code sets PATH to something else in its command prompt/PowerShell instances.

[student-f]

I added "terminal.integrated.env.windows": {"PATH": "C:\\Program Files\\Java\\jre1.8.0_321\\bin"} to User/settings.json, and I was able to run java from the terminal. But I didn't know how to add multiple directories for the other programs. In the end, I just cleared User/settings.json and I was able to run java and flutter from the terminal.

[Steven-MSFT]

@student-f Could you have a look at the update? And if it is helpful, could you accept this answer? then other people can find this answer easier.